Mesoamerican Reef connectivity exercise monitors fish larvae in Chetumal Bay

Fishermen and flyfishing guides from Xcalak, alongside specialists from ECOSUR and IBANQROO, participated in the 16th Mesoamerican Reef Connectivity Exercise (ECOME-16). The monitoring took place in the Zaragoza Channel within Chetumal Bay, specifically in the Manatee Sanctuary.

The exercise is part of a regional effort involving 16 marine protected areas across Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. It aims to gather data on the connectivity of reef fish during their early life stages. During the monitoring, researchers identified larvae of commercially and sportingly important species, including snappers and jacks.

For the third consecutive year, teams recorded the presence of tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) larvae, which is significant for the local catch-and-release flyfishing industry. The collaboration integrates local community knowledge with scientific research to strengthen reef conservation strategies.